Odd Place Names

rudy

Posted 06 June 2012 - 07:04 AM

rudy

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Canada

I came across this story about Dull, Scotland possibly twinning with Boring, Oregon and thought of the many unusual place names I've come across. I'm sure you have all had your share. I'd like to hear some of your favorites (along with a map link). Here's one: Witless Bay, Newfoundland (a source of many great unusual names).

joelschlager

Posted 07 June 2012 - 11:52 AM

joelschlager

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United States

In northern Illinois there happens to be two municipalities adjacent each other with the names "Plano" and "Sandwich". Even better are the suggestions (mere jokes really) for new municipalities to begin nearby with sandwich filling names (i.e. - bologna, turkey, etc...).

Dennis McClendon

Posted 12 June 2012 - 01:24 PM

There have been several books of unusual place-names. Here on my toponymy bookshelf I have

Campbell, Hannah. Why Did They Name It...?

Dickson, Paul. What's in a Name? Reflections of an Irrepressible Name Collector

Blevins, Don. Peculiar, Uncertain & 2 Egg: The Unusual Origins of More Than 3,000 American Place Names

Gallant, Frank. K. A Place Called Peculiar: Stories About Unusual American Place-Names

Quimby, Myron. Scratch Ankle, U.S.A.: American Place Names and their Derivation

Other toponymic enthusiasts may be interested in the American Names Society and its listserv, which you can join by sending an email to listserv@listserv.binghamton.edu with the message SUB ANS-L [your name]. Much of the discussion is about personal names, but there are several of us who are more interested in place names.